Jet-setting Jokinen Due Back Tuesday

February 26, 2006|By Zach Silka Staff Writer

Coral Springs — Even though Panthers captain Olli Jokinen is competing in this morning's gold medal game for Team Finland, you won't find a whole lot of support for the Finns in the Panthers' dressing room.

"A lot of us are pissed off that our countries didn't win," joked forward Mike Van Ryn, a Canadian. "I'm not a Finn fan. They're good guys, but I'd rather see Canada win."

While Team Canada was eliminated from medal contention Wednesday, Jokinen will skate for a gold medal at 8 a.m. today against rival Sweden.

Jokinen and countryman Teemu Selanne lead all scorers at the Winter Olympics with six goals apiece.

"Everybody's going to be happy for him," Van Ryn said. "Being a key player, I think it would be great for him if he gets more confidence. He's already a confident player."

Because of Finland's travel arrangements, Jokinen might find it difficult to arrive in time for the Panthers' game at Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Team Finland's chartered flight is scheduled to fly from Turin to Helsinki after today's final. Jokinen then will travel to the United States, but the Panthers still are expecting him to rejoin the team at Tuesday's morning skate.

"We would accept that there could be an emotional involvement in his mind if he won a gold medal," Panthers assistant coach Guy Charron said. "I'm sure he's going to have his heart in it [against the Lightning], but it may be difficult to put a total concentration to it all."

The Panthers' representatives on Team Canada -- coach Jacques Martin, goalie Roberto Luongo and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester -- also are scheduled to rejoin the team Tuesday in Tampa.

Center Jozef Stumpel, who competed for Slovakia, was due to arrive in South Florida late Saturday. He is scheduled to be at today's practice but won't skate with the team so he can regroup.

Forward Rostislav Olesz won a bronze medal Saturday with the Czech Republic and isn't expected to rejoin the Panthers until Tuesday at the earliest.

"I think everyone's going to find it tough," Van Ryn said. "It's a mentally draining tournament. They've been playing a lot and with jet lag, it's going to be tough for them, no doubt about it."

Getting closer

Winger Gary Roberts will be joining the injured Panthers on the ice after practice Monday or Tuesday. Roberts was cleared by team physicians Friday to begin skating on his own after spraining his MCL on Jan. 19 against Phoenix.

He will be re-evaluated next week to find out if he can be cleared for contact.

Roberts was fourth on the team with 11 goals and 28 points before suffering the first knee injury of his career.

Forward Stephen Weiss was fitted Friday for a new cast -- No. 6 since wrist surgery last month.

"Because of all the sweat, it gets soggy and smells really bad," Weiss said.

Star sighting

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a friend of goaltender Jamie McLennan, rented out the Panthers' practice rink at Incredible Ice on Saturday.

Bruckheimer has produced films such as Glory Road, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop and Days of Thunder, and TV shows such as CSI, The Amazing Race and Cold Case.